Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly is an AmeriCorps VISTA member helping to support farmers’ markets and local food producers in SMIF’s region. As she moves into her second year of serving in this role, she shared some of her experiences with us. Above photo: Maeve tables at the Minnesota Farmers Union Convention with Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association, one of four partner organizations that support her VISTA position.
Where are you from?
South Bend, Indiana.
Maeve Mallozzi-Kelly at a farmers’ market.
Where do you serve?
My host site is Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) in Owatonna, but my position serves SMIF’s 20-county region. My position is also a collaboration between SMIF, Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association (MFMA), Renewing the Countryside (RTC) and Sustainable Farming Association (SFA).
Why did you want to serve through AmeriCorps VISTA?
I wanted to gain experience working for a nonprofit while supporting local food networks.
Describe what you do as a VISTA member.
My position title is the Farmers’ Market Economic Opportunity VISTA. I work on the Local Food Sustainability Project which is a three-year initiative that supports the southern Minnesota food system. In year one, my goal was to collect data from farmers’ markets that would help us better understand the needs that farmers’ markets and local food producers have in our region. We successfully collected data from 18 markets and will be using the data to help support our programing for local food entrepreneurs in years two and three of the project. I have worked on the farmers’ market side of this project while another VISTA member worked on gathering data directly from farmers.
In addition to collecting data I also created an advisory team of farmers’ market leaders and even helped start a new farmers’ market in Montgomery by connecting them with MFMA to help them understand what they needed to get started.
Throughout my first year I also supported the Minnesota Department of Agriculture with a local foods project, attended Specialty Crop Work Group meetings and tabled for MFMA at the Minnesota Farmers Union Convention. I am part of the 2021-2022 Land Stewardship Project Local Foods Cohort and I have attended multiple Diversity Equity and Inclusion trainings related to food systems work.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day-to-day activities look different depending on the phase of the project I am working on. There are many days where I coordinate meetings, draft emails and write reports, but I have also spent a lot of time traveling to farmers’ markets across the southeast region of the state. It has been a very dynamic position.
The Winnebago Farmers’ Market is one of the markets where Maeve collected data in her first year as an AmeriCorps VISTA member.
VISTA positions are all about building capacity. How are you building capacity in your organization and community?
In the first year of the Local Food Sustainability Project, I have helped collect data that will influence the support and programing available to small-scale farmers in our region to help support the viability of their businesses. I was also able to help facilitate partnerships with other organizations to increase SMIF’s organizational capacity.
What have been some of your favorite experiences so far?
Being able to engage with and learn from leaders in food systems work in Minnesota through partnerships, small projects and virtual meetings. Traveling to farmers’ markets over the summer and meeting a lot of great and dedicated people working in the food space was also a definite highlight. Being able to enjoy all the farmers’ market treats 3 or 4 times a week was also great!
What have been some challenges that you have experienced so far and how did you handle them?
It was a little bit challenging getting the data collection project up and running in the timeframe we originally proposed. We ended up starting the data collection two months later than intended but by allowing everyone a seat at the table, the sustainability of the project was ensured. We now understand what we need to do to plan for how to continue this work with everyone still being allowed buy-in.
How has SMIF supported you throughout your service term?
SMIF has been very supportive, providing resources and guidance throughout the whole year. The relationships they have developed with organizations and communities in the southern Minnesota region has been invaluable.
Has AmeriCorps influenced your future plans?
Yes. It’s given me many skills that I need to be able to continue working in food systems, but it has also opened my eyes to career opportunities that I was not aware of before. I hope to continue working in this space, supporting small-scale Minnesota farmers. I double majored in Anthropology and International Studies with a minor in Spanish and received my masters in Sustainable Development with a focus on agriculture and climate change. For career goals, I want to continue to do work that supported local food systems and eventually would like to have my own regenerative farm.
Why did you decide to serve for a second year through AmeriCorps VISTA?
I am passionate about local food systems because small-scale farmers are the ones who provide us with diverse healthy food options. Farmers’ markets provide a space for sustainable entrepreneurship and allow farmers to make a living while providing an essential service to their communities. This VISTA position allows me to continue making a difference in this space.
What have you learned about yourself through this service position?
I have learned how much I value collaborative work and just how important access to local, fresh food is.
Are you interested in a year of service? We are currently recruiting for several AmeriCorps VISTA positions including a Small Farm Local Foods Economic Opportunity VISTA position which will also support the Local Food Sustainability Project. To learn more click here or contact Barbara Gunderson, AmeriCorps director, at 507-455-3215 or barbarag@smifoundation.org.
